MEDFORD, Mass. -- No. 11 Bates College closed out the 2025–26 NESCAC regular season in emphatic fashion Sunday, rolling to a 68–50 victory at Tufts University to secure the No. 2 seed in next week's NESCAC Championship Tournament.

The win marked Bates' third straight over the Jumbos and its first road victory at Tufts since Feb. 5, 2005, snapping a 20-year drought at Cousens Gym. With the triumph, the Bobcats (21–3, 8–2 NESCAC) earned the right to host seventh-seeded Hamilton on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Alumni Gym. Bates defeated the Continentals, 69–60, earlier this season on Jan. 11.

After struggling offensively in Friday night's 56–51 loss at Connecticut College, Bates turned up the precision on Sunday, finishing at 46.6 percent from the field and knocking down nine three-pointers in the victory.

Bates seized control early, opening the game on a 21–10 run as Mya Hicks drained her second three-pointer of the stretch at the 2:57 mark of the first quarter. The Bobcats shot 55.6 percent (10-for-18) in the opening frame and led 23–14 after 10 minutes.

The visitors continued to build separation in the second quarter, holding Tufts to just 18.2 percent shooting (2-for-11) in the session. Bates extended its lead to as many as 17 before halftime and carried a 39–25 advantage into the break, shooting 50 percent in the quarter and draining three triples.

Tufts (13-11, 4-6 NESCAC) attempted to rally in the third, briefly cutting the deficit to 12, but Bates answered with timely shooting while holding the Jumbos to 11 points for the second-straight quarter. Ava James hit a three at the 4:26 mark and Hicks capped the frame with the junior's third trey of the game at the buzzer to send the Bobcats into the fourth with a commanding 54–36 lead.

The Bobcats put the contest away early in the final period, stretching its lead to 20 (62-42) with 5:17 remaining. Bates shot 60 percent (six-of-10) in the fourth and never allowed Tufts to get closer than 14 the rest of the way.

James led all scorers with 19 points, connecting on four three-pointers to pace the Bates offense. Hicks contributed a season-high 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc, while Sophie Spolter added 12 points and six rebounds. Elsa Daulerio chipped in 10 points and five rebounds, and Sarah Hughes dished a game-high five assists as Bates finished with 18 helpers on 27 made field goals.